Collapsible emergency traffic marker



June 1954 A. ROMANO .COLLAPSIBLE EMERGENCY TRAFFIC MARKER Filed Oct. 22, 1962 Hill 2 .HHHH Y;

Fig.|

INVENTOR.

ANTHONY ROMANO Patented June 2, 1964 United States Patent Office 3,135,235 COLLAPSIBLE EMERGENCY TRAFFIC MARKER Anthony Romano, 3974 Jackdaw, San Diego, Calif. Filed Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 232,057 3 Claims. (Cl. 116-63) formed with a pivotal lid which opens to form a cross member which functions to give added stability to the base.

It is a still further and important object of this invention to provide a base member having a pivoted lid with a vertically mounted socket member secured to the base directly above the pivot to provide reinforcement therefor.

Finally, it is an object to provide a collapsible emergency traffic marker of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will generally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the traffic marker;

FIGURE 2 is a view showing how the caution sign is folded preparatory to storage;

FIGURE 3 is aplan view of the bottom of the base member, the lid, in the open position, being shown by the broken lines;

FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring more specifically to the figures, there is shown by way of example only a preferred form of the invention.

In FIGURE 1 the base member is designated generally by the numeral 10. This base member consists of an inverted hollow elongated box-like housing 12 having a top 14, ends 16 and 18, and sides 20 and 22. Extending transversely from side wall 22 of the base at substantially the midpoint thereof is a flange or base 24, the bottom surface of which lies in a plane containing the edges of the ends and side walls of housing 12. A closure member or lid is provided to close the bottom of housing 12, this lid being substantially flat. Extending laterally from one'edge of lid 26 is a flange or boss which is similar to and in juxtaposed relation to the flange 24. A rivet 36, secured to the flange 28 has a head 31 overlapping the top surface of flange 24. This structure provides a pivotal connection between the lid 26 and housing 12 by which the lid may be pivoted from a closed position wherein the space within the housing is completely enclosed by the lid to a position wherein the lid is disposed with its longitudinal axis at an angle of 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the housing as clearly shown in FIGURE 1. In this position, the lid 26 has its lower surfaces in a plane spaced only slightly from said plane including the lower edges of the ends and side walls of the housing 20. In this transverse position the lid is a I highly'efiicient transverse stabilizer against tipping of the marker from its operational position. Any suitable means may be used to secure the lid 26 in closed position on the housing 14. By way of example there is shown a spring pressed detent member 32 secured in one corner of housing 14 and cooperating with a hole 34 in lid 26. This forms no part of the invention and any conventional latch means may 'be substituted for the detent means shown.

The housing and lid may be made of any suitable material having the necessary structural strength and rigidity. It is preferred however to use sheet metal since this may be easily and quickly fabricated to the desired size and shape. I p

Mounted on and contiguous to the flange 24 is a sleeve socket 36. This socket is secured at 38 to the flange 24 by welding or other suitable means and is also secured at 40 to housing member 14. The top of socket member 36 is coextensive with the top 14 of housing 12. Suitably mounted in the sleeve socket 36, by a frictional fit, is a collapsible support rod indicated generally by numeral 50. This rod is shown as formed of two sections 52 and 54, the upper section 54 being of smaller diameter and frictionally fitting a socket 55 formed in the lower section. Although two sections only are shown it is contemplated that any number of sections could be used and the sections may be completely telescoped one within the other in any conventional manner rather than being completely removable as shown.

A caution signal generally indicated by numeral 60 is mounted on the upper end of support rod 54. In the disclosed embodiment the sign is shown as being in the shape of an equilateral triangle and having a base strip 64 and side strips 62 and 66. Strips 62 and 66 are pivotally connected as at 68 and strips 64 and 66 are pivotally connected at 70. A releasable cennection is provided between adjacent ends of strips 62 and 64. This may conveniently consist of a pin 72 having a head 74 secured to the end of strip 64 and a slot 76 in the end of strip 62 having a width equal to the diameter of the pin 72. The ends of the strips are cut at an angle to form a smooth triangular contour as clearly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. A closed socket 78 having a recess 80 therein is secured midway between the ends of the strip 64. Support rod 54 is frictionally retained within socket 80 to complete the assembled traffic marker.

The strips 62, 64 and 66 may be formed of any suitable material preferably sheet metal. They may be coated on one or both sides with a fluorescent or reflective material as desired or a colored paint may be used depending upon the particular tralfic code.

FIGURE 2 illustrates how the strips of the traflic marker are folded about their pivoted ends after removal from the support rod. It will be readily apparent that the strips being of equal length, will be collapsed in substantially side by side relationship when completely folded. The housing 12 provides a suitable receptacle for storing the folded traffic marker and collapsible support rod when not in use.

An important feature of the invention is the relationship of the sleeve socket 36 and hinge pin 30. Since the sleeve 36 is secured not only to the flange 24 but also to the housing 14, a bracing action is effected between the housing and flange which provides an extremely rigid reinforcement for the pivot pin 30.

It can be readily seen that when not in use the improved traflic marker forms a neat, closed, easily carried box, and when erected, forms a very visible sturdy traffic marker.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

I. A collapsible emergency traffic marker comprising:

an inverted hollow box-like base member;

a flange extending laterally from one side of the base member at the lower edge thereof;

a closure member having a flange coextensive with the flange on said base member;

pivot means connecting said flanges together;

a sleeve socket secured to the base member along the side thereof and having an end secured to said first flange whereby said sleeve socket reinforces said pivot means;

a vertical post means removably mounted in said sleeve socket; and

a collapsible sign removably mounted on the top of said post means.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said 010- sure member is pivotable to a position normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing member whereby the closure member acts as a transverse stabilizer for the housing member. I

3. A'structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is of such size and shape as to provide a receptacle 5 for storing said support rod and said sign when not in use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS n ll; madam. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE EMERGENCY TRAFFIC MARKER COMPRISING: AN INVERTED HOLLOW BOX-LIKE BASE MEMBER; A FLANGE EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BASE MEMBER AT THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF; A CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING A FLANGE COEXTENSIVE WITH THE FLANGE ON SAID BASE MEMBER; PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING SAID FLANGES TOGETHER; A SLEEVE SOCKET SECURED TO THE BASE MEMBER ALONG THE SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING AN END SECURED TO SAID FIRST FLANGE WHEREBY SAID SLEEVE SOCKET REINFORCES SAID PIVOT MEANS; A VERTICAL POST MEANS REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLEEVE SOCKET; AND A COLLAPSIBLE SIGN REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF SAID POST MEANS. 